Two-time World Long Drive Champion Jamie Sadlowski has hung up his long drive sneakers for now, and is making a go a playing ‘real golf’.
The former star junior hockey player won the Open Division in both 2009 and 2010. He subsequently reached the TV final 8 the next 6 straight years but failed to complete the hat trick.
With thousands of viewers tuning in to the ESPN network (check out this source here) for the PGA tour this year, it is now the time where Jamie is trying to do something no other man has ever done – transition from long drive into an everyday PGA Tour player. A couple of others have accomplished this, but not without the huge lack of tournament experience that Sadlowski has.
When Sadlowski made the cut a few years ago at the Web.com Boise Open, he said it was the first time he had actually kept score since he was 16 years old.
So while no question the talent is there, can he figure out a way to catch up to players like Jordan Spieth, who had huge success in high school and college? Spieth anchored his Texas Longhorns to the NCAA Championship as a freshman in 2012, when Jamie was only doing long drive events and exhibitions.
Jamie’s Trackman numbers absolutely jump off the page, even though he’s bunting the ball with a much shorter driver than he used in long drive. He’s still able to drive it well over 360, and would easily be the longest hitter on the PGA Tour. And his swing is very solid.
He used to swing in excess of 150 mph, with a record long drive of 445 yards.
But to score low, we also need distance control, course management, emotional control, green reading skills, and of course short game. And these qualities all take time to develop.
Jamie has struggled early on in his Web.com and Canadian Tour starts but will improve in the next few years, no doubt.
Cleveland Golf believes this too as they have invested in him recently with a club contract.
If you’re an avid follower of golf, make your favorite sport more enjoyable by taking part in fantasy golf with your friends over at Fanduel.
